WYHS Weekly Update
For the Week of May 26-30, 2020
Summer Digital Academy!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TPoDqWH0fHbb7Ps4nMJQSdHYFwgad83N49iCRDmTOwk/edit?ts=5ec7c7a2
New Commencement Ceremony Changes and Details!
Dear Seniors Class of 2020 and Families,
We have an exciting update to share with you regarding our graduation plans. Superintendent Hamler and I met with public health officials after Governor DeWine’s recent announcements. Under the guidance of public health officials, and the Ohio Department of Education, we have shifted our graduation plans from a drive-through diploma pick-up, to a single family in-person graduation ceremony that allows graduates to cross the stage in the auditorium of the school to receive their diploma. Our updated graduation ceremony plans are both personal, and safe following the respective mandates and guidelines. This ceremony will remain as scheduled on Saturday, May 30th, on the original graduation date. The participation in this event is optional for students and their families.
Each graduate will have a designated appointment time which will be communicated via student email accounts, and phone calls from WYHS staff members. These phone calls will be made on Tuesday, May 26.
Single Family In-Person Graduation Ceremony Details: Saturday, May 30th, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- There will be School Resource Officer(s) present to reinforce guidelines with social distancing
compliance. - Each graduate will be given a designated appointment time. Graduates cannot arrive more than 5
minutes early, or 5 minutes late. If the graduate is more than 5 minutes late they will not be permitted
to participate in the ceremony. - Temperatures will be taken using a non-contact thermometer.
- Social distancing would be maintained inside and outside of the building.
- Only one vehicle is allowed per graduate.
- Seniors allowed no more than 4 guests from their immediate family to accompany them.
- Every member in the vehicle is strongly encouraged to be wearing a mask.
- Graduates must be dressed in cap and gown, or is dressed nicely.
- When the vehicle first arrives to the main entrance, graduates will be directed to the back of the building
where they approach designated parking spaces. - A staff member will approach the vehicle to check-in the graduate.
- The graduate and 4 guests must remain in the vehicle until a staff member has announced it’s their turn
to enter the building. - The graduate and 4 guests will enter the building, then the auditorium.
- The graduate will walk across the stage and receive their diploma as their name is announced and take a
professional graduate photo. - The graduate and 4 guests will then immediately exit the auditorium and building following the exit
path. - The graduate may take off the mask for the purpose of the photo, and immediately get back into the
vehicle and proceed toward the exit. - Graduates who do not participate will have their diploma mailed to them.
Virtual Commencement Ceremony Details: Saturday, June 6th, 10:00 am
- Pre-recordings, and media will be compiled into a memorable “movie” and into a virtual commencement ceremony with a program similar to a traditional commencement ceremony.
- Pre-recorded speeches from the valedictorian, and salutatorian, keynote speaker, a message from a senior, and a message from the principal.
- Uploaded images of the photographs taken from the drive-through diploma ceremony, and each graduate’s name will be announced as the photos are displayed.
- An invitation/link will be sent to graduates and families to the online platform where the virtual commencement will be able to stream 10:00 am.
- Additional creative elements will be included with a variety of media, including music.
- After the initial streaming, the virtual commencement will be available to download.
Seniors, we sincerely wish we could provide you with all the graduation festivities you have looked forward to for quite some time. Though these celebrations are not a part of the original plan and are unconventional, they still mark the incredible accomplishment of earning a high school diploma, and we hope the few moments of celebration we can provide in the diploma ceremony will be memorable.
Despite these uncertain times, we have much to look forward to and celebrate during these next 30 days. It is my hope we can begin to shift gears from disappointment to excitement. You have worked so very hard for these moments. Please don’t choose to miss out on them just because they are not a part of the original plan. You will learn throughout your lives that so many things do not go as planned, and that’s ok. There are many lessons to be learned when this happens. You are Resilient Rams! So, as the saying goes, when life gives you lemons, you make (Rams) lemonade!
I can’t wait to see you on the stage. Now, it’s time for the hype, join me in these celebrations. It’s the final countdown!
Kind Regards,
Crystal Johnson
Interim Principal
Whitehall-Yearling High School
Attention Seniors! You must complete your Exit Survey before you pick up your diploma!
To complete the survey please:
Go to the WCS Portal page HERE
Click on Naviance App (It will automatically sign you in via Clever)
Go to the About Me tab in the top right corner
Click on My Surveys
Click on Surveys Not Yet Started
Click on 2020 Senior Exit Survey and complete the survey
Virtual Senior Awards Ceremony!
Senior Banners!
Senior Transcripts!
Here is a quick video on how to request initial and/or final transcripts through Naviance:
WYHS Scholarships!
The Legend Scholarship, honoring Daniel Gartner
Eligibility Criteria
- To be considered for this award, you must have completed at least one sport your senior year at Whitehall-Yearling High School. We have made a special consideration for student athletes who participated in baseball, boys tennis, and track and field last year as juniors and planned to participate again this year. These student athletes may also apply for this scholarship.
- All applications are reviewed and the final decision is based on many factors that may include any one or all of the following:
Student’s Financial Need
Student’s Personal Statement (Essay)
Student’s Transcript
1 Letter of Recommendation (From Coach, Teacher, academic mentor, community leader)
Amount: $500 each (awarded to two scholarship recipients)
Deadline: June 14, 2020
Application Link:
Mark Williams Memorial Scholarship
Eligibility Criteria:
- All applications are reviewed and the final decision is based on many factors that may include any one or all of the following…
- Student’s Community Involvement
- Student’s Financial Need
- Student’s Personal Statement (Essay)
- Student’s Transcript (email to winegarnerd@wcsrams.org)
- 1 Letter of Recommendation (From Coach, Teacher, academic mentor, community leader)
- Also, to be considered for this award you must have completed at least one sport your senior year at Whitehall-Yearling High School. We have made a special consideration for student athletes who participated in baseball, boys tennis, and track and field last year as juniors and planned to participate again this year. These student athletes may also apply for this scholarship.
Amount: $1,000 each (one male and one female scholarship recipient)
Deadline: June 14, 2020
Application Link:
Don’t miss out on information that you’ll need this year!! Sign up for the senior Remind!! Use it to ask questions, get important dates & check it often!
Text the message @20wyhs to the number 81010
~Ms. Nelson & Ms. Thomas, Senior Class Advisors
Attention Juniors!
Naviance Exit Surveys
Please be sure to complete your Junior Exit Surveys by Friday, May 29, 2020:
You can accomplish this VERY IMPORTANT task by following these instructions:
Go to the WCS Portal page HERE
Click on Naviance App (It will automatically sign you in via Clever)
Go to the About Me tab in the top right corner
Click on My Surveys
Click on Surveys Not Yet Started
Click on 2020 Junior Exit Survey and complete the survey
Looking ahead!
- Finish strong! Remember that your cumulative GPA through the end of your junior year is what many colleges will use to determine your acceptance next year.
- Begin to look for scholarship opportunities now. Here are a few great websites to help get your search started:
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/
- Study for your ACT! Go to actstudent.org for free practice activities, as well as registration dates and deadlines for upcoming tests.
- Spend some time in Naviance to research careers, help narrow down your college choices, and explore test-prep options.
- Not planning to attend college or not yet sure? Go to Ohio Means Jobs (https://jobseeker.k-12.ohiomeansjobs.monster.com/seeker.aspx) and create an Online Backpack, take a career interest survey, build a budget to learn about living on your own, and much more!
Hope Squad News!
The WYHS Hope Squad is looking for ways to inject hope into your lives! The squad wants everyone on TikTok to make Tik Toks with the hashtag "InjectHope" and the video with the most likes will earn a prize. Also, be sure to follow our new Instagram page @wyhshopesquad. Help us bring some hope to the virtual world by posting positive stuff with the hashtag #InjectHope.
A few Hope Squad members made a video to explain it all!
Please visit the WCS website for Frequently Asked Questions regarding the school closure.
Resources!
City of Whitehall
The City of Whitehall has put together a COVID-19 Resources page. Click the link below for more information:
From Columbus Public Libraries!
The Columbus Libraries are offering the following:
- Free meals in Whitehall Branch's Parking Lot: Monday- Friday from 10:30am-11:30am our partner, Children's Hunger Alliance, is passing out free grab and go meals (breakfast and lunch) to all children. On Fridays, they are offering extended meals to help sustain children all weekend long. Customers can walk, or arrive by vehicle, to pickup a meal.
- Virtual Homework Help: Our librarians and managers are available to help students with homework help Monday- Friday from 9am-4pm. All students ages K-12th grade are welcome. Students do not need library card numbers to get started. Students can find help at https://www.columbuslibrary.org/help-students-learning-home
- Summer Reading Challenge: Columbus Metropolitan's Summer Reading Challenge will begin on Saturday, May 30th and run through August 1st. Students, and grownups, can register online to sign up, participate in online activities, and win prizes. More information to come!
- Curbside Pick Up Info: https://www.columbuslibrary.org/covid-19-coronavirus-response
Food!
Food Resources - AVAILABILITY IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE: If you are in need of access to meals, some options are listed below.
- COVID-19 RESOURCES FOR FRANKLIN COUNTY RESIDENTS
Whitehall City Schools will provide a grab-and-go style lunch for all Whitehall students in front of WYHS and Kae Avenue Elementary South from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Monday through Friday during the break. In addition to lunch, we will provide students with a bagged breakfast to eat the following morning (available at WYHS and Kae Ave.) We will encourage students to take their lunch/breakfast and exit the property (this institution is an equal opportunity provider).
Call 1-888-3-HUNGRY(486479) for information regarding sites providing meals as they become available
Columbus City Schools will be serving breakfast (8:00 am - 9:00 am) and lunch (11:00 am - 1:00 pm) Monday through Friday. Meals will be served to ALL students 18 and under, not just students enrolled in CCS. East side locations include Independence High School at 5175 E. Refugee Rd., Columbus Africentric Early College at 3223 Allegheny Ave., and Sherwood Middle School at 1400 Shady Lane Rd.
HandsOn Central Ohio: 24-hour community resource center that can assist with food and other necessities (614-221-6766 OR 2-1-1)
Victory Ministries (614-252-2500): Currently no clothing boutique, no public entry to our building – but we are still providing food (delivering directly to cars). Please call for an appointment.
HEART Food Market (614-600-6065)
Bishop Griffin Resource Center-Food Pantry (614-338-8220)
Reynoldsburg Helping Hands-Food Pantry (614-868-9494)
St Philip the Apostle Church-Food Pantry (614-237-1671)
Corinthian Baptist Church-Food Pantry (614-237-8619)
St. Philip Episcopal Church-Food Pantry (614-253-2771)
Mutual Aid Central Ohio (Community assistance network): https://bit.ly/2W6zzNU
- Blessing Box Projects: A Blessing Box is a small, often homemade structure where people leave donated goods for others to pick up anonymously- https://www.facebook.com/ColumbusBlessingBox/
Community and Social-Emotional Resources
Office Hours - Counselors, Social Workers, Advisors
Counselors, Social Workers, Advisors, and other staff will be available during select “office hours.” These staff members will be available to talk to parents and students if they are in need via email. Additional forms of communication such as Google Hangout, Google Meet or phone calls may be available after initial email contact is made. Below you will find the contact information and office hours (Monday-Friday) for the WYHS SSC staff members. Please be advised that while staff will be checking their emails periodically, it is during the below listed times that staff will be actively checking email and working.
WYHS
Mrs. Taylor, School Counselor, Last Names A-K - taylorl@wcsrams.org - 8:00am - 12:00 pm
Mrs. Wilson, College & Career Coord.- wilsona@wcsrams.org -8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Ms. Miller, School Social Worker - millerb@wcsrams.org - 11:00 am -3:00 pm
Ms. Thomas, School Counselor, Last Names L-Z- thomasj@wcsrams.org - 12:00- 4:00 pm
Ms. Liz, Communities in Schools - casline@wcsrams.org - 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Mrs. Grasinger, I Know I Can - grasingera@wcsrams.org 8:00 am - 4:00 pm,via text message at 216-714-2482
Ms. Hines, I Know I Can - hinesj@wcsrams.org - 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Communities in Schools
Ms. Liz can be reached via email at casline@wcsrams.org and via phone calls at 614-715-4791 Monday- Friday between the hours of 8am-4pm. Ms. Liz will be continuing with her scheduled check-ins with students and will be supporting students and their families with additional resources if needed.
-All on-going groups and interventions will be on hold and will commence upon the return back to school.
-Youth to Youth’s Advisory Board Meetings (YAB Wednesdays) are also placed on hold. Students please look for updates at @YAB1982.
-Career Zone Sessions are placed on hold at the Barnett Rec Center. Students please contact AMP Coaches Greg & Amaal at amaal@leadthewaylearningacademy.org if you have any additional questions.
I Know I Can
Seniors!
We know there are a lot of questions regarding next steps, with students receiving college acceptance letters, financial aid packets, and continuing to apply to colleges. I KNOW I CAN will be available to you during this time.
Mrs. Grasinger can be reached via email at grasingera@wcsrams.org and via text message at 216-714-2482, Monday- Friday between the hours 8a-4p.
Here is the link to her google classroom where you can find additional information https://classroom.google.com/u/0/c/NjI4NjE1MDc0OTBa
Juniors!
Here is a link for you too!
https://classroom.google.com/u/0/c/NjI4NjIxMTAzODJa
Freshmen and Sophomores!
Ms. Hines is ready to assist you in anything you need during this break! Naviance lessons are in the Classwork section of Google Classroom. Some teachers are using it for credit.
Her email is hinesj@wcsrams.org and can be reached via email, Monday-Friday 8am-4pm .
Freshman Google Classroom Code: il5m26u
Sophomore Google Classroom Code: l7ja65g
Students in Crisis - AVAILABILITY IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE: If there is an emergency during our alternative learning period, listed below are some resources that can be utilized by students who may be in crisis.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Crisis Hotline (614-722-1800): Students 17 and under can call and speak with someone 24/7
Teen suicide hotline (614-294-3300): Teens and young adults can call 24/7
If a student feels unsafe and does not feel comfortable speaking on the phone, they can text HOME to 741741.
Domestic Violence Hotline: 614-224-HOME (4663)
Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-HOPE (4673)
Additional Teen Resources - AVAILABILITY SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Huckleberry House provides 24-hour emergency counseling and is a safe haven. It is located at 1421 Hamlet Street, Columbus, OH 43201 and can be reached at 614-294-5553. Please click this link for info on how they are serving the community during COVID-19: http://huckhouse.org/covid-19/
Star House is a drop-in center where homeless youth (14-24) can go for up to 12 hours a day to receive support. Due to COVID-19, as of March 30, Star House's drop-in center will be open for services between 7pm and 11am. It is located at 1220 Corrugated Way, Columbus, OH 43201 and can be reached at 614- 826-5868.
Kaleidoscope Youth Center -Due to the Stay Home Ohio order, KYC's Drop-in Center is closed through May 29th. But, join us on Instagram (@KYCOhio) for some virtual programming options! Our housing programs and case management support are still operating through telehealth and food/resource drop-offs, without face to face contact. We are also providing virtual training options through our education & training program for professionals.